The Hottest Temperature Ever Recorded in California Will Melt Your Face Off

California has a little bit of everything in terms of climate and weather. Some parts of the state experience unrelenting winters that make for great ski resorts. Other areas in California are deserts. High temperatures are not unusual in the warmest portions of the state. However, one day in this state was hotter than any other in the region. Discover the hottest temperature ever recorded in California and see why people hope to never witness this blazing heat again!

The Typical Climate in California

California has over five different Köppen climate zones within the state. The southeastern part of the state is considered a hot desert or cold desert. The central southern portion of the state has a cold, semi-arid climate. The rest of the interior of the state is considered a hot summer Mediterranean climate, but the exterior of the state is a warm-summer Mediterranean climate. In other words, the temperature and precipitation greatly vary throughout the state.

As one might imagine, the hottest temperature occurred in the hot desert portion of the state. The southeastern part of the state has the perfect combination of factors to produce extreme temperatures. These factors include high temperatures, low elevations, and low humidity.

What Was the Hottest Temperature Ever Recorded in California?

The hottest temperature ever recorded in California was 134 °F at Greenland Ranch, now called Furnace Creek in Death Valley. That temperature occurred on July 10, 1913. Other high temperatures in different desert states have come close, but none have broken the 130 °F mark just yet. Death Valley is below sea level, has geological features that limit air circulation, and lacks humidity. These elements combine to make the area very inhospitable and incredibly hot.

The hottest temperature ever recorded in California is not just the record for the state and country. That is the world record for the highest reliable temperature ever recorded on the planet!

However, this record is not without controversy. Originally, a record of 136 °F recorded in El Aziziya, Libya was the highest. The World Meteorological Organization decertified that claim in 2013. The formal review of the record found that the instruments used to measure the heat were problematic among many other issues.

So, with the temperature in Libya out of the running, California took over for the world’s hottest temperature. Not all meteorologists are convinced that the readings at Furnace Creek were accurate in 1913, though. The World Meteorological Organization has come out with support for the record, so it continues to stand for now.  

What Was the Hottest Summer in California?

Although the hottest day occurred in 1913, that was not the hottest summer on record throughout the state. Overall, the summer with the greatest average temperature in California occurred in 2021. During the summer months, defined as June, July, and August, the average temperature of California was between 3.5 °F and 4 °F hotter than usual.

The hottest summer in California was not limited to the state. Other states had their hottest overall summer that year as well, including Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Idaho. Also, the temperature in the country was 0.01 °F away from being the hottest ever recorded.

The last time summer was that hot was during the 1936 Dust Bowl Summer. High temperatures and droughts ravaged many parts of the United States, creating unlivable conditions in some states.

Could a Higher Temperature Happen in the State?

When people read about the hottest temperature ever recorded in California, they want to know whether it could happen again. After all, the temperature was recorded over 100 years ago. The short answer is it may be possible that such a high temperature could certainly happen again.

In fact, more accurate instruments than those available in 1913 recorded a temperature of 130 °F at Death Valley in 2021. In 2020, Death Valley National Park’s Furnace Creek Visitor Center recorded a temperature of 129.9 °F.

With such hot temperatures officially recorded using modern methods, it seems possible that one day could match or exceed the heat recorded in the park. Still, the 4 °F difference between the hottest day in recent memory and the record is larger than it seems.

Some meteorologists and climatologists continue to say that the all-time hottest temperature was the result of a bad temperature reading. Nevertheless, as hot summers continue to pile up in the region, meteorologists, climatologists, and laypeople will continue to monitor the temperatures in Death Valley.

What Animals Can Survive in Extremely Hot Temperatures?

After learning about the hottest temperature ever recorded in California, it may seem like nothing could survive in the area. However, Death Valley has many unique animals that thrive in the region.

For example, the Death Valley pupfish is a small fish that lives in the few spots where water exists in area. Badlands snails also live at the bottom of Death Valley as well. They’re hardly the only animals that exist in the region, though.

People that go to the Death Valley National Park will also see:

• Roadrunners
• Ravens
• Kangaroo rats
• Desert bighorn sheep
• Mojave Desert tortoise
• Bullfrogs
• Coyotes

Clearly, these animals do not read the signs calling the area “Death Valley.” Several other animals beyond those listed live in the region, and they have various adaptations that help them.

The hottest temperature ever recorded in California is the highest recorded on the planet. However, some people believe that this temperature deserves to be decertified. For now, the record of 134 °F stands. In recent years, the summer high temperature in Death Valley has reached as high as 130 °F. While such temperature readings are incredibly rare, they could lend some credence to the state’s somewhat contested record. Furthermore, the recent record-setting temperatures could also be a sign that a new record temperature could occur. We’ll have to wait and see about that, though.